Labeling machine,particularly for labeling bottles



Dec. 15, 1970 STELLAMANNS EI'AL 3,547,735

LABELING MACHINE, PARTl'CULARLJY FOR LABELING BOTTLES Filed June 12;1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 b/erner Emmer/iny,

Weir Afirney;

Dec..15, 1970 T. STELLAMANNS ETAL 4 Sheets$heet 2 Filed June 12 1968lnven/ar's: ee s elnmanns Md Dec. 15,1970 T. STELLAMANNS EI'AL v3,547,736

LABELING MACHINE; PARTICULARLY FOR LABELING BOTTLES Filed Jun lzgiese v4 Sheets-Sheet lave/21ers 7 460 5M marms and Werne Emm r-lfry,

Dec. 15, 1970 LABELI Filed June 12. 1968 T. STELLAMANNS ETAL 3,547,736NG MACHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR LABELING BOTTLES 4 Sheets-Shet 4lave/liars: 7Zeo stelgmanns and Wrrger Framer/in United States Patent3,547,736 LABELING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR LABELING BOTTLES TheoStellamanns and Werner Emmerling, Berlin, Germany, asssignors to JohannWeiss Maschinenfabrik und Apparatebau GmbH, Berlin, Germany Filed June12, 1968, Ser. No. 736,495 Claims priority, application Germany, June13, 1967, W 44,156 Int. Cl. B65c 9/04 U.S. Cl. 156-455 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for labeling objects, particularlycontainers, and espcially bottles wherein an endless beltlike elementtravels around two spaced guide rolls and has a run parallel with aconveyor transporting the objects to be labeled to, through, and fromthe machine. The element has a cavity alternatingly connected to asource of subatmospheric pressure air and to a source ofsuperatmospheric pressure air. Passages. are connected to said cavityand terminate in openings in the outside surface of said beltlikeelement for alternatingly producing suction thereat for holding labelson said outside surface and air pressure for blowing the labels onto theobjects to be labeled. A counteracting device is placed alongside theconveyor and opposite said run of said beltlike element for holding theobjects on said run while the labels are applied.

The present invention relates to a machine for labeling objects,particularly containers and especially bottles.

Such machines, so far, operate with a labeling cylinder on whosecircumference label receiving surfaces are provided which are made ofsoft-elastic material, for example rubber, having suction openings forholding the labels to the surfaces. The labels are taken, by means of aplacing device which usually consists of a suction roll, from a labelsupply container arranged close to the circumference of the labelingcylinder and are conveyed to the label receiving surfaces of thelabeling cylinder. The objects to be labeled are moved by a conveyorbelt tangentially to the labeling cylinder. At the labeling station astationary or movable counterholding device with an elastic activesurface, preferably made of sponge rubber, is arranged opposite thelabeling cylinder alongside the conveyor belt. The trouble-freeeffective operating speed of the conventional labeling machines islimited because the duration of the pressure applying the labels to theobjects, which is also important for assuring the stability of theobjects on the conveyor belt, is very short because it is limited to themoment when the active label receiving surface passes the point wheresaid surface moves parallel with the conveyor belt.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide alabeling machine which avoids the shortcomings of the conventionallabeling machines and makes possible any duration of pressing the gummedla-bel onto the object, also at top operating speeds of the labelingmachine, whereby adhesion of the label to the object is improved becauseample time is available for setting the adhesive and instability of theposition of the objects on the conveyor belt caused by the suddenrelease of the objects immediately after passage of the labelingposition is avoided.

The aforesaid and other objects are obtained, according to theinvention, by providing an endless, flexible band-, strand, beltorchain-like element which travels 3,547,736 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 aroundat least two spaced, substantially cylindrical guide elements rotatingaround parallel axes, at least one of the guide elements beingpositively driven. The beltlike element contains at least one hollowspace which is connected by a flexible conduit to a conventionaldistributing valve placed in the space surrounded by the beltlikeelement and rotating sychronously therewith, for alternatinglyconnecting said hollow space to a source of air of subatmosphericpressure and of superatmospheric pressure. The aforesaid hollow space isconnected to at least one opening in the outside surface of the beltlikeelement. A counteracting device is placed opposite a first run of saidbeltlike element parallel therewith and alongside of a conventionalconveyor belt for supplying and removing the objects to be labeled whichbelt travels alongside said run of the beltlike element at a speed equalto the traveling speed of the latter, a gumming device, a label supplycontainer and a label applying apparatus being arranged alongside saidbeltlike element, particularly alongside the second run of said beltlikeelement.

In a particularly simple and useful arrangement of the machine accordingto the invention the beltlike element comprises a first rubber beltvulcanized to a second, toothed rubber belt, the aforesaid hollow spacebeing formed by a piece of rubber hose vulcanized into the first belt,the aforesaid opening being at the end of a conduit, terminatinglaterally in said hose.

Connection of said hollow space to said valve can be i simply effectedby projecting a portion of the aforesaid rubber hose from the firstrubber belt and connecting a suitable conduit to said projectingportion.

This conduit is preferably formed by a thin walled rubber hose havingreinforcing means placed therein to prevent compression of the hose bythe exterior air pressure.

In order to make is possible to apply long labels to the outside of thebeltlike element an additional hollow space may be provided in theelement extending longitudinally thereof, communicating with the firsthollow space and having conduits laterally connected thereto andterminating in the outside surface of the element.

In many cases it is of advantage to provide the counteracting devicewith a rigid plate whose position normal to the plane of the plate isadjustable and whose active surface is preferably provided with a spongerubber covering.

For labeling bottles having two parallel opposite plane surfaces it maybe of advantage to provide the counteracting device in the conventionalmanner with an elastic belt preferably made of rubber and travelingaround at least two guide rolls. This belt may be driven at the speed ofthe conveyor belt or may be arranged to move freely.

A particularly compact arrangement of the apparatus according to theinvention is obtained by placing the label supply container next to thesecond run of the beltlike element with the longitudinal axis of thecontainer parallel with said second run.

If it is desired to simultaneously label two opposite plane surfaces ofan object, for example a flat bottle, the counteracting device may be inthe form of a second beltlike element.

If several labels, for example belly-, breastand collar labels, must besimultaneously applied, one above the other, several beltlike elementswith accessories are arranged one above the other.

In some cases it may be advisable to arrange the beltlike element in theform of a chain carrying segments, one for each object to be labeled,the segments being provided with rubber coverings having a hollow spaceand a conduit connected thereto and an opening as described before.

For simultaneous application of front and back labels it may beadvisable to arrange the labeling machine so that the counteractingdevice comprises at least one belt traveling around at least two rollsalongside the conveyor belt and at the same speed and direction as therun of said beltlike element which run is adjacent the conveyor belt,the rolls being supported on a frame which is swingable around the axisof the roll which is downstream of the second roll with respect to thedirection of movement of the supplied objects, swinging of the framesynchronously with the supply of the objects being effected by a drivencam disc supported by the machine frame. A rigid, straight roll-onsurface provided with a soft-elastic covering preferably made of spongerubber is placed immediately downstream of the run of the belt which runis alongside the conveyor belt and in line therewith, the roll-onsurface having a front edge tonguelike reaching around the belt or thebelts.

The application, particularly of the front labels, is facilitated if theoutside of the beltlike element is provided with preferably rectangularrecesses suitable to receive a portion of the circumference of theobjects to be labeled.

Adaptability of the apparatus to solve various labeling problems can beimproved by providing, on the machine frame, an adjustable belttightener for the belt of the counteracting device.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will bestbe understood from the following description of embodiments thereof whenread in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an apparatus according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified portion of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of vital parts of a furthermodification of an apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a large scale top view of a portion of an element formingpart of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic deviation of the portion shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top view of a modification of the element shownin FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side view of the portion shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of another modificationof an apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 9 shows the portion illustrated in FIG. 8 in a different operatingposition.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of some of the parts shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, as seen from the conveyor Referring more particularly toFIG. 1 of the drawing, numeral 13 designates an essentially conventionalframe of a labeling machine comprising a conveyor belt 1 for supplyingthe objects to be labeled. The conventional laveling cylinder isreplaced by spaced guide elements 3 and 4 which are formed by rollswhose axes are vertical and around which extends a flexible element 2 inthe form of a belt, band or chain. One of the elements 3, 4 is driven atsuch speed that a run 19 of the element 2 which run is parallel with theconveyor belt 1 and adjacent thereto moves at the same speed and in thesame direction as the conveyor belt. A label supply container 6 has alongitudinal axis which is placed parallel with a second run of theelement 2. A placing roll 7 for taking the labels out of the container 6and applying the labels to label receiving surfaces on the outside ofthe 4 element 2 and a gluing or gumming device 8, known per se, forapplying an adhesive to the labels placed on the label receivingsurfaces of the element 2 are alongside the second run and on theoutside of the element 2.

As seen in FIG. 4 the element 2 preferably comprises a toothed belt 15made of rubber to which a plain rubber belt 14 is vulcanized. Rubberhose sections 16 are vulcanized into the belt 14, spaced equally to thespacing of the label receiving surfaces at the outside of the belt 14,the longitudinal axis of the hose sections 16 extending transversely tothe longitudinal axis of the belt 14. The size of the rubber hosesections 16 is such and they are so inserted into the rubber belt 14that a portion of 23 of each hose section projects beyond the uppersurface of the belt 14. Passages 24 extend from openings in the freeoutside surface of the rubber belt 14 into the hose sections 16 as shownin FIGS. 4 and 5. The portions 23 of the rubber hose sections 16projecting from the top of the rubber belt 14 serve for connectingflexible conduits 12 (FIG. 1) preferably made of rubber and connected toa conventional distributing valve 11 which rotates synchronously withthe element 2. The valve 11 is placed on top of the frame 13 in thespace surrounded by the element 2 and is adapted to control the passages24 travelling with the element 2 around the guide elements 3 and 4,similar to the control of the blow and suction air apertures known inconnection with conventional labeling cylinders. The control is suchthat for taking over the labels by the element 2 from the label placingdevice 7 subatmospheric pressure is used in the passage 24, in therubber hose sections 16 and in the conduits 12. This subatmosphericpressure is stopped and, if desired, is subsequently replaced by air ofsuperatmospheric pressure when the labels are transferred to the objects25 at engagement thereof with the element 2. Inside the conduits 12reinforcing wire coils are preferably provided to prevent compression bythe exterior air pressure during the subatmospheric pressure periods.The lateral openings of the channels 24 in the rubber belt 14 have thesame function as the conventional blow and suction air apertures whichterminate in the label receiving surfaces of the labeling cylinders. Aplurality of such openings may be arranged superimposed in a row.

If long labels must be applied, for example labels extending completelyaround the objects 25, a plurality of openings of the channels 24 placedin the running direction of the belt 14 may be provided. In this case anoblong cavity 17 shown in FIG. 6 and extending parallel with the belt 14which is made up of individual layers, is produced, for example, byvulcanizing a rubber element 38 into the rubber belt 14. The cavity orspace 17 is connected by openings of the channels 24 with the outside.The passage openings of the channels 24 may be arranged superposed inrows as shown in FIG. 7. The space is connected by a connecting channel39 to the interior of a rubber hose section 16.

The toothed belt 15 is in engagement with a correspondingly toothedportion of at least one of the guide elements 3, 4 which drives theelement 2 so that correct relative position of the element 2 and theopenings of the channels 24 thereon and stationary or synchronouslyoperated parts of the machine is assured.

As shown in FIG. 2 the element may be in the form of a chain 28comprising segments 22 individually correlated to the objects 25 to belabeled whereby the segments may be adjacent to one another along theruns 19 and 20 of the chain and may consist entirely or in part ofrubber plates. The segments 22 are provided with openings of thechannels 24, hollow spaces 16, 17 and hose portions 23 for connectingconduits 12 which lead to a distributing valve 11' which is surroundedby the chain 28. The arrangement of the remaining parts 1, 6, 7, 8 etc.of the labeling machine which parts are not shown in FIG. 2, isanalogous to the arrangement shown in FIG. I wherein a rubber belt 14,15 having parallel runs 19, 20 is used.

A counteracting device is placed on the side of the conveyor belt 1which is opposite the element 2 for pressing the objects to be labeledand moved through the machine on the conveyor belt 1 onto the element 2which supplies the labels to the objects 25 and presses same thereunto.

If labeling is desired while the objects 25 roll on the element 2, thecounteracting device 5 may be formed by a rigid plate 27 covered in theconventional manner by sponge rubber 26. The position of the plate 27transverse of the travel direction of the conveyor belt 1 can bechangedby manipulating a clamping screw 40 for adjusting the device tosuit difiFerent operating conditions.

If labeling of two opposite, for example, plane surfaces of the objects25 is desired, a counteracting device 5 as shown in FIG. 3 may be usedwhich comprises a rubber belt 9 running around two spaced guide rollsand 11. This belt may travel freely or may be driven to travel at thespeed of the conveyor belt 1.

Depending on the position and arrangement of the surfaces of the objects25 to be labeled, the labeling system, essentially comprising theelement 2 with the label supply container 6, the label applying device7, the glue applying device 8, and the counteracting system 5 (FIG. 1)or 5 (FIG. 3) may have active surfaces engaging with the surfaces of theobjects 25 to be labeled which active surfaces are inclined relative tothe vertical planes in which they are shown in the drawing If it isdesired to simultaneously label opposite surfaces of the objects 25, inlieu of the counteracting or counter pressure device 5 shown in FIG. 1or FIG. 3, a second element 2 with devices 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 may be placedon the side of the conveyor belt 1 which is opposite the first element2.

In any case several superimposed labels (belly, breast, collar labels onbottles) may be simultaneously applied by superimposing several labelingsystems comprising the element 2 and accessories 68 and superimposingseveral accompanying counteracting systems 5 and 5', as is known inlabeling machines operating with labeling cylinders.

If several labels must be placed simultaneously at about the sameelevation on round objects, for example front and back labels onbottles, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawing may beused. Here, the label receiving surfaces of the rubber belt 14 (FIGS.3-7) or the segments 22 of a chain 28 (FIG. 2) are provided withrecesses 36 which are preferably rectangular or trapezoidal for labelingfrustum-shaped objects, so that a portion of the circumference of theobjects 25 can enter a recess, as is known in labeling machines havinglabeling cylinders. The counteracting device 5 can comprise one orseveral belts 9 which are looped around two spaced rolls 10 and 11 andtravel alongside the conveyor belt at the same speed and in the samedirection as the run 19 of the element 2 neighboring the conveyorbelt 1. The rolls 10, 11 are supported by a frame 29 which is swingablearound the shaft 31 of the roll 10 which is last passed by the objects25 relative to the roll 11 which is first passed. Swinging is effectedaccording to the rate of supply of the objects 25 :by a cam disc 32supported by the frame 13 (FIG. 1). A plane roll-on plate 35 follows therun 33 of the belt 9 in alignment therewith. The plate 35 is rigid andprovided with a sponge rubber covering 34. The forward edge 37 (FIG. 10)of the plate 35 extends tonguelike around the belt or belts 9. A spring41 resting against the frame 13 (FIG. 1) and mounted on a stand 42 urgesthe surface 35 into the desired position relative to the active surfaceof the run 19 of the element 2.

If an object 25 to be labeled travels on the conveyor belt 1, after ithas been spaced in the conventional manner from the neighboring objectsby a conveyor worm 43 (FIG. 1) synchronously with the element 2, intothe reach of the belt 9 which is at that moment in the position shown inFIG. 9, the belt 9 moves due to the action of the cam 32 toward theobject 25, pressing it into the recess 36 in the rubber belt 14 (FIG. 1)or in a segment 22 which recess has just traveled around the guideelement 4. A label to be applied is held by suction above the recess 36.The suction emanates from apertures of channels 24 (FIG. 5) placed atthe marginal portion of the recess 36. While the object 25 enters therecess 36 blow-air instead of suctionair is conducted through theconduits 12 to the openings of the channels 24 (FIG. 5) for suddenlyblowing the label which has just been gummed by the gumming device 8,around the object 25 and firmly pressing the label thereunto. Theblow-air can act on the label and make the adhesive force of the gluefully effective while a point of the object is on a path of, forexample, mm. extending alongside the run 33 of the belt 9 from theforward roll 11 to the rearward roll 10. While on this path the object25 rests relative to the element 2. When the object arrives at the endof the run 33 of the belt 9 and has traveled into the reach of theroll-on plate 35, 34 or of the forward edge 37 thereof projectingbetween the belts 9 (FIG. 10), torsion is exerted on the object by thesestationary parts which rolls the object in a direction adverse to thetravel direction of the portion 19 of the element 2 or of the conveyorbelt 1 over the edge 43 of the recess 36 out of the latter and over aplane, not recessed part of the rubber belt 14 or Over a neighboringsegment 22 of a chain 28 (FIG. 2). A gummed back label is held on thesegment 22 :by suction emanating from openings of the channels 24. Frontlabels are placed above the recesses 36 and back labels are supplied tothe not recessed, plane portions 19 of the element 2 from label storagecontainers 6, if desired from a conventional double storage containerholding front and back labels side by side.

When the objects 25 travel from the reach of the belt 9 into the reachof the stationary roll-on plate 35, 34 air is conducted through thedistributing valve 11 and respective conduits 12 to the openings 24',which up to this movement supplied suction for holding a back label on aplane surface portion 44 of the element 2. The air now blowing out ofthe openings of the channels 24, assisted by the roll-0n operation,presses a back label onto the circumference of the object. The end ofthe roll-on surface 35, 34 is opposite the guide element 3 for theelement 2 so that after completion of, if desired multiple, rolling overof the object 25 between the roll-on surface 35, 34 and the planeportion 44 of the element 2 between two recesses 36, the object isreleased from the parts 2 and 5, cooperating for labeling, and left tothe conveyor belt 1.

A belt tightener 30 fixable by a screw 45 is preferably provided for thebelt 9 on the frame 29.

The shaft 31 of the roll 10, the cam disc 32 with its drive shaft, notshown, the frame 29, the stand 42 and the shaft of the roll 11, i.e.,the entire counteracting device 5 may be borne by a slide resilientlysupported on the machine frame 13 and movable transversely to the traveldirection of the conveyor belt 1. This slide, not shown, is permanentlypressed transversely of the travel direction of the conveyor belt andpermits adjustment of the apparatus to various dimensions of the objectsto be labeled.

Additionally, the roll-on surface 35, 34 may be arranged swingablearound a shaft 46 mounted on the aforesaid slide, pressing transverselyto the travel direction of the conveyor belt being effected in the:aforedescribed manner by the spring 41 on the stand 42.

i The time the blow air presses the label onto the object may beextended beyond the 110 mm. travel described before, by way of example,by corresponding increase of the distance between the guide rolls 10 and.11. It is a particular advantage of the invention that, in spite ofhigh operating speed of the labeling machine comparatively long periodsare available for pressing the labels onto the objects, by suitabledimensioning of the ele ment 2.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tobe secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A machine for gluing labels to upstanding objects, particularlycontainers, and especially bottles, comprismg (a) at least two paraxial,rotatable, substantially cylindrical, spaced guide means,

(b) an endless flexible, beltlike element looped around said guidemeans,

(c) at least one hollow space in said beltlike element,

(d) a distributing valve for alternatingly affording flow of air towardsaid valve and from said valve,

(e) said valve being placed inside the loop formed by said beltlikeelement and driven to rotation substantially in synchronism with the runof said beltlike element around said guide means,

(f) a flexible conduit connected to said valve and to said hollow space,

(g) said beltlike element having an outside surface, an air passageconnected to saidhollow space and to said outside surface for effectingsuction on said outside surface when said valve affords flow of airtoward said valve for holding labels to said outside surface and foreffecting pressure on said outside surface when said valve affords flowof air from said valve for pressing labels onto objects to be labeled,

(h) a conveyor belt for transporting the upstanding objects to belabeled to, through and from the machine, said beltlike element having afirst run alongside said conveyor belt and traveling in the samedirection and at the same speed as said conveyor belt, and

(i) a counteracting device placed alongside said conveyor belt oppositesaid first run for urging the objects to be labeled toward said firstrun.

2. A machine as defined in claim l-comprising accessories comprising alabel supply container, a label applying device arranged for receivinglabels from said container and applying the labels to said beltlikeelement, and a label gumming device arranged for gumming the labelsapplied to said beltlike element, the latter having a second run, saidaccessories being arranged outside of the loop formed by said beltlikeelement and alongside said second run.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein a plurality of said beltlikeelements and of said accessories are placed one above the other forsimultaneously applying labels to objects at different elevations.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein a plurality of saidcounteracting devices are placed one above the other for simultaneouslyapplying labels to objects at different elevations and locations aroundan object.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible conduit isformed by a rubber hose comprising an incompressible reinforcement forpreventing compression of said conduit by the outside air pressure.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1 comprising a sec ond hollow space insaid beltlike element communicating with saidfirst hollow space andextending longitudin ally of said beltlike element and air passagesconnected to said outside surface and to said second hollow space.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said counteracting deViCQ cop es a rigid Plate m ab e in a direction transverse to the travelingdirection of said conveyor belt, said plate having a surface facing saidconveyor belt and provided with a layer of sponge rubber.

8. A machine as defined in claim '1 wherein said label supply containeris oblong and is placed alongside the second run of said beltlikeelement, the longitudinal axis of said container being parallel withsaid second run.

9. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said beltlike elementcomprises a chain, a plurality of segments mounted thereon, a rubbercovering on each of said segments, said hollow space and said airpassage being placed in said rubber covering.

10. A machine for gluing labels to objects, particularly containers, andespecially bottles, comprising (a) at least two paraxial, rotatable,substantially cylindrical, spaced guide means,

(b) an endless flexible, beltlike element looped around said guidemeans,

(0) at least one hollow space in said beltlike element,

(d) a distributing valve for alternatively affording flow of air towardsaid valve and from said valve,

(e) said valve being placed inside the loop formed by said beltlikeelement,

' (f) a flexible conduit connected to said valve and to said hollowspace,

(g) said beltlike element having an outside surface, an air passageconnected to said hollow space and to said outside surface for effectingsuction on said outside surface when said valve affords flow of airtoward said valve for holding labels to said outside surface and foreffecting pressure on said outside surface when said valve affords flowof air from said valve for pressing labels onto objects to be labeled,

(h) a conveyor belt for transporting the objects to be labeled to,through and from the machine, said beltlike element having a runalongside said conveyor belt and traveling in the same direction and atthe same speed as said conveyor belt, and

(i) a counteracting device placed alongside said conveyor belt oppositesaid run for urging the objects to be labeled toward said first run,

said beltlike element comprises a first rubber belt, a second, toothedrubber belt vulcanized onto said rubber belt. said hollow space beingformed by a piece of rubber hose vulcanized into said first rubber belt,said passage terminating laterally in said piece of rubber hose.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein said piece of rubber hosehas a portion projecting from said first rubber belt, and said flexibleconduit is connected to said projecting hose portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 539,280 5/1895 Magee 156-455X1,881,125 10/1932 Parr 156455 1,981,278 11/1934 'Mudo 156-446X 2,525,74110/1950 Von Hofe et al. 156-455X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary ExaminerR. E. HART, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

